VA
  • TGT on YouTube
  • About TGT
  • The TGT Team
  • How TGT rates
  • Responsible Gambling Advice
  • Contact Our Team
  • Writers Wanted
  • Content Disclaimer
  • Affiliate Disclosure
Contains commercial content
Billboard Left
Billboard Left
The Grueling Truth - Where Legends Speak / 40-Year Phiniversary: Dolphins Top Lions to Clinch AFC East Title

40-Year Phiniversary: Dolphins Top Lions to Clinch AFC East Title

Miami returns to the playoffs after a drought
Publish Date: 12/09/2019
Fact checked by: Mike Goodpaster
CIRCA 1970's: Running back Larry Csonka #39 of the Miami Dolphins talks with head coach Don Shula on the sidelines circa mid 1970's during an NFL football game. Csonka played for the Dolphins from 1968-74 and 1979. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

After being the NFL’s most dominant team for the early parts of 1970s, the Miami Dolphins had taken a step back during the middle and later part of the decade.

From 1971-74, the Dolphins won the AFC East every year, reached the Super Bowl three times and won it twice. In 1975 and 1976, Miami failed to make the playoffs before settling for a wild card spot in the next two seasons. On this day 40 years, Miami would clinch its first division crown in five years with a 28-10 win over the lowly Detroit Lions.

The Dolphins were coming off a big 39-24 win over the New England Patriots as they arrived at the Pontiac Silverdome on Dec. 9, 1979. Miami held a 1-game lead over the Patriots and needed only to win to clinch the division.

Miami wasted no time seizing control of the contest as quarterback Bob Griese fired first-quarter touchdown passes of 25 and 29 yards to Nat Moore and Jimmy Cefalo, respectively. Detroit cut the lead to 11 at halftime, but the Dolphins’ defense continued to dominate in the second half.

The Lions netted just 182 yards of offense on the day as Miami tallied six sacks and forced three turnovers. Neal Colzie and Tim Foley each came up with interceptions in the victory.

Miami extended the lead to 21-3 in the third quarter on a 3-yard touchdown run by Larry Csonka. Gary Davis added a 3-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Lions finally found the end zone late in the contest on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Scott Hunter to Gene Washington.

Griese finished the day with 229 yards passing, the two scores and an interception. Moore led all receivers with 78 yards receiving on four catches. Freddie Scott caught four passes for 65 yards to lead the Lions.

The Dolphins would lose at home to the New York Jets the following week and then to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Division round. That would be Miami’s final playoff game with Griese under center. The division title that allowed Miami to play in that game was clinched on this day four decades ago.

Mike Ferguson is a contributor for The Grueling Truth, covering Florida sports and sports history. Follow Mike on Twitter at @MikeWFerguson. To keep up with all of his work, like his Facebook page.

Billboard Left
Billboard Left
Read Also
Come Fly with me: How the 1988-89 Chicago Bulls pushed forward to an NBA dynasty.
Find the best sportsbook to bet on the NBA Playoffs! Prologue: By ...
Esteban de Jesus, Roberto Duran y AIDS (1972-89)
Many of us dream of celebrity sports fame, but only cruel individuals ...
BetMGM Promo
Elmer Ray: The Humble Man of Hastings
"Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, for ...
Every NFL teamโ€™s best player not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame- NFC East
The Pro Football Hall of Fame houses the greatest players in NFL ...
Predicting the next five Pro Football Hall of Fame classes
Induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio is ...
Ranking the top 200 players in the NFL ahead of the 2021 season
This list isnโ€™t based solely on performances from the 2020 NFL season. ...
Top 100 NFL free agents entering the 2021 offseason
Below is a list of the top 100 free agents available this ...
Lady Tygerโ€™s Tale: How Marian Trimiar Mauled the Boxing Establishment of the 1970s and 80s
To Feed the Ambition in Your Heart is Like Carrying a Tiger ...
The Army Boxer Who Knocked-Down Muhammad Ali (1960)
I had wanted to write a boxing story about Junebug Hudson for ...
Sportsbook of the month
PointsBet - Get your Bonus Bet now! Get your Bonus Bet now!
Latest News
Drew Allar taking over as the signal caller at Penn State
Happy Valley Is Witnessing A Change As Sean ...
The State of Indianaโ€™s Top 20 Basketball players of all time
This list will comprise anybody born in Indiana ...
Lopez vs. Conlan & Lara vs. Wood 2: Featherweight Festivitiesย 
ย  The Mexican invasion commences this Saturday in ...
Our Latest YouTube Videos
Video: Boxing History 101: Randall
Boxing History 101: Randall "Tex" Cobb the Man who shut up Howard Cosell
Video: 1919 Cincinnati Reds: True Champions
1919 Cincinnati Reds: True Champions
Video: Boxing History 101: Abe Attell A Complex Champion
Boxing History 101: Abe Attell A Complex Champion
Betting Tips
05/27/2023 - 8:30 pm
Kaseya Arena
Tip:
Celtics to Cover
Celtics -3
FanDuel
05/25/2023 - 8:30 pm
TD Garden
Tip:
Miami to Cover
7.50
FanDuel
05/16/2023 - 8:30 pm
Ball Arena
Tip:
Nuggets to Cover
-5.50
FanDuel
Sportsbook of the month
PointsBet - Get your Bonus Bet now! Get your Bonus Bet now!
Top Betting Sites
Top Betting Bonuses
FanDuel
FanDuel
FanDuel Review
4.8/5
PointsBet
PointsBet
PointsBet Review
4.6/5
Bet365
Bet365
Bet365 Review
4.5/5
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com Review
4.5/5
Unibet
Unibet
Unibet Review
4.5/5
FanDuel
FanDuel Bonus
Get up to $1,000 back in bonus bets
T&Cs apply
4.8/5
PointsBet
PointsBet Bonus
5 x $50Bet Credits
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Bet365
Bet365 Bonus
Bet $1 & Get $200 in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Bet $1 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets at bet365. Deposit required. Bonus Bets winnings are added to Bonus Bets balance. Bonus Bet wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com Bonus
100% up to $500
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Unibet
Unibet Bonus
100% up to $100
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Our Team
Mike GoodpasterAuthor IconJosh SchwartzSamuel TeetsSimon Briffa
+8
Mike Goodpaster
Mike Goodpaster
Chief Editor
Author Icon
Christopher Carlson
Content Writer
Josh Schwartz
Josh Schwartz
Editor
Samuel Teets
Samuel Teets
US Sports Veteran
Simon Briffa
Simon Briffa
Sports Editor
Mark Lewis
Mark Lewis
Editor
Chris Benedict
Chris Benedict
Editor
Author Icon
Malik Zorrok
Author
Author Icon
Daniel Kornhauser
Author
John Raspanti
John Raspanti
Author
Author Icon
Buddy Gibbs
Author
Brian Coburn
Brian Coburn
Author
Peter Bonahoom
Peter Bonahoom
Author
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....

If you enjoy hearing from the legends of pro sports, then be sure to tune into โ€œThe Grueling Truthโ€ sports shows, โ€œWhere the legends speakโ€

Contact us: contact@thegruelingtruth.com

Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.

This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.

21+NCPG
Move to Top
Close
Stake.us Exclusive Bonus
5% Rakeback
Promo Code
Copy
Visit Site
T&Cs apply, 18+
Payment Methods
Bitcoin
Litecoin
Ethereum
Dogecoin
Highlights
  • Exclusive promo code: TGTSOCIAL
  • Play Plinko, Hilo, Crash and more!
  • Get Stake Cash bonuses every day!
Stake Originals
Dice
Crash
Plinko
Mines
×
Your Promo Code:
The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Visit Site